But I said I'm sorry: Helpfulness of romantic couples' efforts to reconcile after conflict

IF 1.8 4区心理学 Q2 COMMUNICATION

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS Pub Date : 2024-07-27 DOI:10.1111/pere.12565

Siri Wilder, Karen J. Prager, Srikar Garapati

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Whereas several decades of research have documented behavior during couples' conflict discussions that is destructive to the couple relationship, the effectiveness of post‐conflict reconciliation efforts has only recently received research attention. The current study aimed to discover how couples' negative and positive communication during conflict discussions was associated with the helpfulness of two strategies for reconciling: Active Repair and Letting Go. The sample comprised 217 heterosexual cohabiting couples who completed (1) questionnaires assessing their relationship satisfaction and tendency to engage in demand/withdraw conflict management, (2) a recorded in‐lab conflict discussion, and (3) fourteen daily diaries reporting on relationship conflict and Active Repair and Letting Go reconciliation strategies. Daily negative conflict behavior (i.e., conflict expansion and contemptuous communication) did not predict helpfulness of reconciliatory attempts; nor did habitual negative conflict behavior (i.e., demand/withdraw). However, daily positive conflict behavior (i.e., attentive listening) did predict more helpful reconciliatory attempts. Observers' one‐time ratings of couples' communication competence during conflict discussions revealed an unexpected inverse association with helpfulness of post‐conflict reconciliatory attempts for men. Results indicate that couples' ability to maintain positive behavior during day‐to‐day conflict may be the best strategy for supporting subsequent efforts to reconcile and reconnect afterward.

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但我说了对不起：恋爱中的情侣在冲突后努力和解的有用性

数十年的研究记录了夫妻在讨论冲突时破坏夫妻关系的行为，而冲突后和解努力的有效性直到最近才受到研究的关注。目前的研究旨在发现夫妻在冲突讨论中的消极和积极交流与两种和解策略的帮助之间的关系：积极修复和放手。样本由 217 对异性同居夫妇组成，他们填写了（1）评估其关系满意度和参与要求/撤回冲突管理倾向的调查问卷；（2）实验室内冲突讨论记录；（3）14 份每日日记，报告关系冲突以及主动修复和放手和解策略。日常消极冲突行为（即冲突扩大和蔑视性交流）并不能预测和解尝试的有用性；习惯性消极冲突行为（即要求/放弃）也不能预测和解尝试的有用性。然而，日常的积极冲突行为（即专注倾听）却能预测出更有益的和解尝试。观察者对夫妻在冲突讨论中的沟通能力的一次性评分显示，男性的沟通能力与冲突后的和解尝试的帮助程度存在意想不到的反向关系。研究结果表明，夫妻在日常冲突中保持积极行为的能力可能是支持冲突后努力和解和重新建立联系的最佳策略。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS Multiple-

CiteScore

2.40

自引率

6.20%

发文量

期刊介绍： Personal Relationships, first published in 1994, is an international, interdisciplinary journal that promotes scholarship in the field of personal relationships using a wide variety of methodologies and throughout a broad range of disciplines, including psychology, sociology, communication studies, anthropology, family studies, child development, social work, and gerontology. The subject matter and approach of Personal Relationships will be of interest to researchers, teachers, and practitioners. Manuscripts examining a wide range of personal relationships, including those between romantic or intimate partners, spouses, parents and children, siblings, classmates, coworkers, neighbors, and friends are welcome.